Happy dog, happy dog lover! Corowa Dog Lovers Incorporated’s secretary Dot Colman with her 10-year-old staffy cross Niki love their new home.
In principle agreement for the development of an estimated $20,000 off leash dog park on two unused sections of the Corowa Tennis Club has been given by Federation Council.
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Council officers will continue to work with Corowa Dog Lovers Inc to deliver Phase 1 of the project when funding becomes available for the project.
As a first step Corowa Dog Lovers Inc is proposing the first phase 1 to include three double gate entries, repairs to the existing tennis fence, seating (available from Apex Park Mulwala), concrete pads for seats, bins/bag dispensers, water points and signage.
The group, which has over 150 Facebook members, has indicated their preparedness to fundraise the necessary funds to implement Phase 1 of the plan. In recent correspondence, the group indicated they had received over 700 signatures from locals on a petition seeking an off leash area dog area for Corowa.
Happy dog, happy dog lover! Corowa Dog Lovers Incorporated’s secretary Dot Colman with her 10-year-old staffy cross Niki love their new home.
Council’s decision to work with the Corowa Dog Lovers group was made at its latest monthly meeting on May 28, in Urana, on the motion of Crs Aaron Nicholls and Shaun Whitechurch.
Council heard “an amazing address” by group committee member Paula Currell on the eve of council’s meeting according to Cr Nicholls who said group members are not just about dogs, but the community.
“With well socialised handling of dogs they are less likely to get into trouble,” he said. “The group has worked tirelessly over the last two years and are prepared to fundraise.”
“Happy dogs, happy community!” added Cr Whitechurch who suggested local groups which could assist with certain items related to the project include the Lions club, Men’s and She Sheds.
It is understood council will donate some seats surplus to requirements elsewhere. Cr Nicholls asked if council was aware of some unused bus stops items which could be considered for use. He also sought and obtained an assurance from council’s director engineering services Theo Panagopoulos that any work undertaken at the site by whoever would meet all requirements and standards to avoid the possibility of problems down the track for council.
It was an elated dog group secretary Dot Colman following council’s decision. “This is the culmination of 18 months of planning and lobbying by the Corowa Dog Lovers group who formed with the creation of the dog park as one of its main objectives,” she told The Free Press.
“It kicked off with a very successful petition and following submissions, presentations and discussions with council the site has been approved.
“Corowa Dog Lovers will now start raising the funds needed to get the park to phase 1 status, and will hold events, seek corporate sponsorship and grants. We still have work to do but council’s decision was a massive milestone.”
Corowa Dog Lovers Inc. encourage anyone who would like to join the club to contact Corowa Dog Lovers Inc on Facebook or email corowadoglovers@gmail.com.
“We will be seeking people who can provide some hands-on support no matter how big or small and become part of this amazing development,” Dot concluded. When The Free Press photographed happy group members last Friday week, that contact had already started.
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